Good bye 2018 … Welcome 2019 !

2018 was an eventful year, but that was not the reason for my absence. Somewhere along the way, the drive that once fueled my desire, my passion for cooking dwindled until months had gone by without me realizing it.

Some major personal breakthroughs in 2018: (Not in a chronological order) the best thing that happened was that I found a “cure” for my digestive problems. Looking back, I realize that this was the turning point for me. Little by little, my passion for cooking returned and I found myself thinking of what recipes I could try my hand at again, and most importantly, what the next post could be. Additionally, I changed my department under the same company at work. I am very happy with my decision. I had the chance to learn new things and to meet a bunch of new, wonderful people. And last but not least, we have also decided it’s time for us to buy a condo and move to a new location. Like I said, it’s been a busy year.

All I can say looking back at 2018, is that I am so grateful to have such a wonderful family, including my two furry boys, Sherlock & Steve, of course :); I am so grateful for my friends and coworkers and not at least for being able to improve my health.

Do I have a list of resolutions ? Not really. But I have a few ideas I would love to stick with and achieve in 2019:

  1. to read more: I decided a book a month;
  2. to knit/crochet more: at least on little thing a month;
  3. Socialize more. As my daughter says YOLO.
  4. Blog more; a post a month (at least).

I am pretty sure most of you have a say that whatever we do the first day of a new year, we will do it through the year. So what better way to start the new year with than a platter with grilled cheese and ham sandwiches.

What cheese and ham did I use? Soft goat cheese, Old Cheddar cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, Brie and Camembert cheese along with Black Forest Ham. Who doesn’t want to eat cheese all year round?

Happy New Year 2019!!!

Ham and cheese sandwich ready for the pan

Ham and Cheese sandwiches in the pan
Getting the platter ready
Grilled ham and cheese platter for the first 2019 breakfast
Am I going to get a sandwich or not ?!?

Bon Appetite!
and
Happy New Year 2019 !!!
Advertisement

Sweet and Savory Bread Puddings

I don’t know what you do when you have too much bread or  stale bread in your kitchen but I would always come with a bread pudding version: sweet or savory depending on what else is there in the fridge or cupboards.

Bread pudding is a bread-based dessert popular in many countries’ cuisines . As you might know the main ingredients are stale bread and milk or cream, eggs and some  form of fat: butter or suet. If you choose a sweet bread pudding version you also need sugar, dried fruits, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, bourbon or rum extract.  If you choose a savory variation you can also add cheese, mushroom, spinach, olives depending on your inspiration.

I  think no matter what kind you choose they both are a great choice for brunch.

Savory puddings can also be used as meal.

Sweet bread pudding:

dried prunes, cinnamon and dried prunes bread pudding 

bread-pudding-1bread-pudding-2bread-pudding-3

apples and cinnamon bread pudding 

raisins-and-apple-bread-pudding-1raisin-and-apple-bread-pudding

Savory bread puddings:

cheddar, feta and green olives bread pudding 

feta-and-cheddar-bread-pudding-1feta-and-cheddar-bread-pudding-2

Spinach and cheese bread pudding: 

spinach-and-cheese-bread-pudding-1spinach-and-cheese-bread-pudding-2

Spinach and goat cheese whole wheat bread pudding

dscn7610dscn7611

I hope that whatever your choice will be you enjoy  the bread pudding 🙂